New testimonies from those who managed to flee North Korea have painted a grim picture of a nation where a simple interest in foreign pop culture can lead to a death sentence. Reports gathered by Amnesty International reveal that the Pyongyang government is using public executions and forced labor camps to crack down on citizens, including high school students, caught watching South Korean television or listening to K-pop.
While the global community celebrates the success of shows like Squid Game and the music of BTS, North Korean teenagers risk their lives just to catch a glimpse of them.
According to 25 escapees interviewed in 2025, the enforcement of these laws is both systematic and terrifying. Several witnesses described being forced to attend public executions as schoolchildren, a tactic designed to instill fear and serve as a “warning” to the youth.
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One defector recalled a massive gathering in Sinuiju where tens of thousands were made to watch the execution of an individual accused of sharing foreign media. For the authorities, these killings are viewed as a form of ideological education—a way to “brainwash” the younger generation into rejecting what the state calls “rotten ideology.”
The legal framework for these punishments was further solidified by the 2020 Anti-Reactionary Thought and Culture Act. Under this law, possessing or watching South Korean media can result in 15 years of hard labor, while distributing large amounts of content can lead to the death penalty. Despite these extreme risks, many North Koreans continue to smuggle in USB drives and SD cards from China, viewing the content on portable media players known as “notetels.”
However, the severity of the punishment often depends on a person’s bank account rather than the nature of their “crime.” Escapees describe a system riddled with corruption where wealth and political connections act as a shield.
Those with money can often bribe their way out of trouble or pay off officials to avoid the notorious re-education camps. In contrast, poorer families are frequently forced to sell their homes or belongings to scrounge up thousands of dollars in bribe money, and those who cannot afford to pay are left to face the full weight of the law.
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The specialized law enforcement unit known as “Group 109” is tasked with carrying out warrantless searches of homes and mobile phones across the country. Yet, even among the ranks of those tasked with suppression, the hypocrisy is reportedly widespread.
One interviewee noted that the consumption of South Korean media is an open secret, suggesting that everyone from factory workers to high-ranking party officials watches the content in private, even as they publicly enforce the ban.
Amnesty International has called for the immediate dismantling of these laws, labeling the system as a “dystopian” violation of international human rights.
As the North Korean government tightens its grip on information, the gap between the wealthy elite and the common citizen continues to widen, leaving the most vulnerable—often teenagers—to pay the ultimate price for seeking a brief escape through entertainment.
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